Wayne Rooney verdict on Burnley penalty which beat Plymouth Argyle

Wayne Rooney described as 'a little bit harsh' the penalty from which Burnley scored the goal to beat his Plymouth Argyle side 1-0 at Turf Moor.

All that separated the two teams in the Championship match was a 26th minute spot kick from Burnley captain Josh Brownhill, which was awarded by referee Robert Madley after a challenge by Darko Gyabi on Josh Cullen.

Argyle goalkeeper Dan Grimshaw went to his left as Brownhill put the penalty to his right and that was enough to seal victory for the Clarets, who are expected to challenge for an immediate return to the Premier League after relegation last season.

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Rooney said: "Initially from the side it looked like a penalty so I understand the referee giving it. I don't think it was as clear cut as I thought. I have watched it back after the game and Darko does pout his leg up but I think it's clever play from the Burnley player, who throws himself into it really.

"It's one as an attacking player you use your nous. If a leg is there you throw yourself into it and you con the referee a little bit. It's a little bit harsh I felt, but the referee gave it so we have to deal with that."

Argyle were off the pace in the first half against Burnley but it was much better from them after the interval, and Rooney thought they could have come away with a point with better decision making in the final third.

The Pilgrims' boss said: "We know Burnley are a good team, they have got some very good attacking players, especially out wide. We felt being organised and trying to stop the ball getting to them was the best way to go, but I think we just lacked a little bit of energy in the first half. That has obviously cost us the game.

"It was important for us to get in at 1-0 at half-time.. We spoke about lifting the energy, and composure, and belief because I know we are a good team and I felt we weren't taking the ball as well as I wanted us to. I thought we came out the second half and we did that.

"We made it difficult for Burnley with how we moved the ball and with the positions we took up. With better decision making in the final third, I think we maybe come away with a point. It's a disappointing result and some things for us to learn on but I still think a lot of positives as well."

Rooney continued: "I think you are coming away from home against a very good team, of course you are going to try to restrict Burnley from clear cut chances and I felt we did that. I don't think they had too many clear cut chances at goal - a few shots from the edge of the box, so from that point of view it was okay.

"We got in some good positions in the final third, but first half we rushed a couple of decent opportunities. Second half, I think the decision making and maybe the weight of the pass in the final third denied us getting better opportunities at goal."

It has been a challenging run of fixtures for Argyle since the first international break of the season, with impressive victories over Sunderland (3-2) and Luton Town (3-1) at Home Park, but narrow defeats away to West Bromwich Albion (1-0) and Burnley.

The Pilgrims have picked up eight points from as many matches this term going into the final fixture before the next international break, which is the visit of Blackburn Rovers to the Theatre of Greens on Saturday. Blackburn's unbeaten start to the season was ended by a 3-0 defeat away to Coventry City last night.

Rooney said: "The last four games we have had have been difficult and I think what we are showing is we can compete against any team in this league."

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